Bath's children's book festival runs 25 September to 4 October 2026. Which events are two weekends only, what is already sold out, what was cancelled, what is free.
Bath Children’s Literature Festival runs from Friday 25 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, in association with Longleat for a second year. Tickets have been on general sale since 10am on Friday 3 July, and some of the biggest events have already gone.
The thing the festival’s own homepage does not spell out is the shape of it. The public programme is not ten continuous days. It is two weekends, with the weekdays in between given over to schools. If you are planning a family day out, these are the four dates that matter.
The public programme is two weekends, not ten days
Every public event listed at Bath Box Office on 4 September falls on one of these four days:
- Saturday 26 September
- Sunday 27 September
- Friday 2 October (one evening event)
- Saturday 3 October and Sunday 4 October
There is nothing bookable on Monday 28 September through Thursday 1 October. The Friday 2 October event is a single 6pm show, Half-Asleep Chris and The Unordinary Book of Ideas at The Forum, tagged “Just Announced”.
Two more festival events sit outside the window altogether, so do not miss them by looking only at the dates above: The Art of Harry Potter with Levi Pinfold, Saturday 10 October, 5pm, at Christ Church, BA1 2RH, and The World of Jamie Smart, Monday 2 November, 6pm, at The Forum.
Who is on
The headline names across the two weekends include Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Katherine Rundell, Jacqueline Wilson, Cressida Cowell, Michael Rosen with MC Grammar, Chris Riddell, Cornelia Funke, Philip Reeve, Emma Carroll, Holly Webb, Greg James and Chris Smith, Max Porter, Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller, Richard Coles, Dr Ranj and Andy Day, plus Martin Brown of Horrible Histories doing “Horrible Bath” (full listing, Bath Box Office).
What has already gone, and what has been dropped
This is the part worth checking before you plan a day around one author.
- Gruffalo Granny with Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Forum, Saturday 26 September 10.30am, is marked access only. General tickets are gone. It is the first new Gruffalo story in more than 20 years, so it went early.
- Struan Murray: Creative Writing Masterclass (Sat 26 Sep, The Holburne Museum) and A Sticker Dolly Dressing Magical Storytelling Adventure (Sat 26 Sep, The Holburne) are both on a waiting list.
- Stitch Head with Guy Bass, The Holburne, Saturday 3 October 11am, shows last tickets.
- Two events on Saturday 3 October at 6pm are marked cancelled: Meet Maz Evans and The Big Timey-Wimey Doctor Who Prize Quiz, both at The Guildhall. If you hold tickets, contact the box office.
What is free
The Waterstones Illustrator in Residence slots are free and need no ticket at all. There is one on each of the four public days at Waterstones, BA1 1DA: Jim Smith on 26 September, Charley Rabbit on 27 September, Rhian Wright on 3 October and James Lancett on 4 October, each running at multiple times through the day.
Venues, all walkable
The festival is spread across ten city centre venues, all within about 20 minutes of each other on foot:
| Venue | Postcode |
|---|---|
| The Guildhall, High Street | BA1 5AW |
| The Forum, St James’s Parade | BA1 1UG |
| Bath Central Library | BA1 5AN |
| The Mission Theatre | BA1 1UF |
| The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street | BA2 4DB |
| BRLSI, Queen Square | BA1 2HN |
| Bath Pavilion | BA2 4EU |
| Waterstones, Milsom Street | BA1 1DA |
| Komedia, Westgate Street | BA1 1EP |
| Christ Church, Julian Road | BA1 2RH |
The Holburne and Bath Pavilion are the two that need a walk from the centre, about 10 to 15 minutes each from the Abbey. Our parking in Bath page covers the council tariffs and the car parks with a free first hour, and Bath roadworks and travel has anything currently shut on the way in.
Booking, fees and the rules on children
Prices are not shown on the festival’s listing pages. They appear at the booking step, and they vary event by event. What the festival does publish:
- All orders include a £1.50 processing fee.
- Tickets are non-refundable. If an event sells out the box office will resell returns, with a £2 per ticket handling charge on those.
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by a ticket-buying adult unless the event says otherwise. Babes in arms do not need a ticket unless stated.
- Masterclasses take drop-offs from age 8. You sign your child in and leave a contact number. If you want to stay, book the “Child 8+ (inc. parent)” ticket type instead.
- Doors open about 15 minutes before each event, and start times are approximate.
Priority booking has already run, for Bath Festival Patrons and Members and by code for Longleat and Waterstones subscribers. Everything left is on general sale. The box office is on 01225 463362, 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Bath Festivals’ other two
Bath Festivals also runs the Bath Literature Festival and the Bath International Music Festival, both in late spring. Their 2027 dates are not out. Bath Box Office’s footer still advertises 16 to 24 May and 30 May to 7 June, which are the 2026 dates and have already happened, so do not book a trip on them. For what is on between now and Christmas, see things to do in Bath and Bath Christmas Market.
Every date, venue and availability status above was taken from Bath Festivals’ own site and Bath Box Office on 4 September 2026. Availability moves; check before you travel.
Have your say